If Real Estate is your profession (or even if it isn't!), politics better be your hobby!
If Real Estate is your profession (or even if it isn't!), politics better be your hobby! Especially, if you own a Tooele County home. Or hope to someday!
Obviously, anyone that's read me before, knows that I feel very strongly that the two subjects are very closely related. I've spent enough time involved in both to see the connection. I also see how it might not be obvious to everyone.
Some of this may seem remedial.
Some of it may seem hopelessly convoluted.
Hopefully, something will stick!
Everyone talks about how important it is to get "their" person elected to office.
As the County Chairman of my political Party, I spend a fair amount of time attempting to do the same thing, on a fairly large scale. However, at the moment, I'm doing something different. I'm actually attempting to represent a whole County, no matter the Party affiliation.
Politics really does make for strange bedfellows!
As you may, or may not know. ( shame on you if you don't!) , after every census, States go through a process called "redistricting". What this is, is an amazingly complicated, ridiculously political process designed to "draw" on the map, the legislative districts in a State. In our case, in Utah, it means drawing four Congressional Districts, seventy-five State House Districts, twenty-nine State Senate Districts and fifteen State School Board Districts.
The Constitution is very clear that the districts are to be based on the theory of "one man, one vote". Each district should have as close to the same population as possible. There is also allowance made for common borders, common interests, etc. There isn't supposed to be an allowance for voting tendencies, or political power, but an argument can be and often is, that this last one is actually the driving force.
It's not my intention to debate that part of it here, but rather to talk about why this is such an important process for the individual homeowner, and why are Realtors so worried about the representation in little ole Tooele County. Very simple. History!
Ten years ago, when the lines were last redrawn, Tooele County was about the last District drawn. It has been said that because of that, we got "hosed". Tooele ended up being represented by four different Senators and two different Representatives. Only one of the six actually lives in Tooele County!
Now, the argument can be made that this actually is the opposite of "hosing". Six Representatives has to be better than two, right? Well, it can be, if you have the right people fighting for the right things. We've been very blessed to have people that are aware of the wants and needs of the people of Tooele County. We've also been cursed to have a couple over the years that had a hard time remembering where Tooele County is, let alone the people they represent.
The other side of the argument is that we need "local" representation, meaning folks that live here. Again, a very easy position to take, and defend. The problem here is with the numbers. Based on population, each Senate District should have roughly 94,000 people, and each House seat should have around 36,000. With a County population of around 59,000, you can see the problem. The chances of having completely "local" representation don't exist, no matter how much we wish for it.
So, the thing we can work on, the thing that will make our representative the best, will be to make sure that when our County is split, we are grouped with people that have similar interests and lifestyles as the Tooele population. Right now, the good folks in Stansbury Park are a minority in a Senate District with Salt Lake County. Nothing at all against the folks in SL, or the good Senator that represents them. But the fact is, we are actually very little like the folks on the other side of the Oquirrh Mountains. That also includes the folks in Utah County, fine people that they are. We currently share a "minority" interest in a State School Board seat with folks 70 miles away in an urban area. Our issues aren't really much in common with theirs, and it wouldn't matter anyway, as we don't have enough votes to change anything. Our neighbors in Grantsville don't always see things the same way as the folks in Bountiful, but several proposed maps show a House District including both places.
How does this affect home ownership in Tooele County? How about a couple of examples. Our County is totally desert. Water and water rights are vital to an area that relies on private wells in many cases. It makes sense to have representation that understands water issues, rather than one that just knows that water comes out of the tap when you turn it on. How about the fact that some 80% of the land in this County is Government owned? Not something that everyone understands, or the issues that arise from it. I've already mentioned the schools. I believe in local control of our schools. Local may not be best served from 70 miles away, in an urban area.I'm much more comfortable with representatives that understands rural Tooele County issues.
I understand the reality. I know that Tooele County will be chopped up in this process. It's inevitable. However, if we must be chopped, let's make sure we don't get hosed! That means, my Tooele County friends, get involved in the process. Get educated on how things work. Go to the website, www.redistrictutah.com, and draw a map of your own. Most of all, get comfortable with your new hobby. Or, don't complain when things don't go as you'd like!